Marian Foster, a familiar voice as the long-running host of BBC Radio Newcastle’s Garden Mania programme was presented with the commendation in recognition of her tireless promotion of community horticulture in the North of England.

The award was presented by Northern Branch Chairman Clive Parker CHort FCIHort at the Northumbria in Bloom Awards Presentation. Foster has been a champion of community horticulture through her work as judge/assessor with Northumbria in Bloom, encouraging local communities and volunteers to make lasting sustainable improvements to their local environments – such as participation in the Northumbria in Bloom and the Royal Horticultural Society’s ‘It’s Your Neighbourhood’ campaign, as well as the RHS Campaign for School Gardening.

Foster’s career in broadcasting included a time presenting the BBC1 afternoon chat show Pebble Mill at One for fourteen years, from 1972 to 1986. She has also been a regular broadcaster from RHS Chelsea Flower Show. She is a former President of the North of England Horticultural Society and a member of Garden Media Guild.